LIVING WATER CAC DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE 29TH DECEMBER, 2021- SUPPORT FOR THE MINISTERS OF GOD

LIVING WATERS DAILY DEVOTION

SUPPORT FOR THE MINISTERS OF GOD

29^TH DECEMBER, 2021

EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Zech. 6:9 – 10:2; Rev. 19:21 – 21:5

READ: 2 Chronicles 31:4-10
4 Moreover he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord.

5 As soon as the commandment was circulated, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of grain and wine, oil and honey, and of all the produce of the field; and they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 

6 And the children of Israel and Judah, who dwelt in the cities of Judah, brought the tithe of oxen and sheep; also the tithe of holy things which were consecrated to the Lord their God they laid in heaps.

7 In the third month they began laying them in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. 

8 And when Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and His people Israel. 

9 Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites concerning the heaps.

 10 And Azariah the chief priest, from the house of Zadok, answered him and said, “Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed His people; and what is left is this great abundance.”

MEMORISE: Moreover, he commanded the people who dwelt in Jerusalem to contribute support for the priests and the Levites, that they might devote themselves to the Law of the Lord (2 Chronicles 31:4)

EXPOSITION

In the Old Testament, the priests and Levites were not allowed by God to work for their living. They were given no portion of land. They were to rely on God for their living and survival (Num. 18:20; Jos. 13:14,33). They were to do away with worry or anxiety about ephemeral things. They were to wholly consecrate themselves to the work of God. They were to have their living in the priesthood of the Lord (Jos. 18:7). The temple and those who serve at the things of the temple and those who serve at the altar should partake of the offerings thereof (1 Cor. 9:13).

 

The same principle is applicable to the New Testament ministerial work: ‘Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14).The reason God restricted the Old Testament priests from working remains the same in the New Testament. Ministerial assignment is a spiritual and sensitive matter that should be given an undivided concentration.

Though ministers of God also face financial and social challenges like the laity, yet they should not be worrisome with a view to concentrating their livelihood on their given tasks. Even if they engage themselves in petty trading to support the work of ministration, they should not allow such to divert their attentions from God and their ministries. It is the role of the church members to take a good care of their pastors out of what God has given them (1 Thess. 5:12-13; Heb. 13:7; 2 Cor. 11:9). They can do this individually and/or collectively.

Each group, association and department can do the same to meet the needs of their spiritual leaders in their various local assemblies. When your spiritual leaders sow spiritual things to your life, you should allow them to reap your own material blessings (1 Cor. 9:11; Gal. 6:6).You don’t need to wait for your pastors to ask you anything they need before you give it to them as God blesses you. It pays a lot do so (Phil. 4:14-19; Heb. 6:10).

PRAYER POINT:
1. Lord, shower Your blessings upon my life to be a blessing to others.
2. Help me, O Lord, to be committed to giving to Your servants out of what you give me.
3. Pray for divine help and support for all faithful and committed ministers of God.

DO HAVE A BLESSED DAY

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